Two off-duty police officers shot and killed an active shooter who forced her way into Joel Osteen’s Houston megachurch Sunday afternoon.
Authorities have identified the deceased suspect as 36-year-old Genesse Moreno and said a 7-year-old left in critical condition in the incident is the suspect's biological son.
At approximately 1:53 p.m., Moreno walked into Lakewood Church wearing a trench coat and a backpack and opened fire, Houston Police Department Homicide Division Cmdr. Chris Hassig said at a Monday news conference. The suspect was accompanied by a young child, identified by police as Moreno's son, USA Today reports.
Houston police Chief Troy Finner said the shooter pointed a weapon at a security guard to force entry to the church.
A pair of off-duty officers at the church fatally shot Moreno, who was confirmed dead at the scene, during an exchange of fire in a church hallway, Finner said.
Police recovered an AR-15 with a sticker reading "Palestine" on the buttstock, Hassig said. Moreno also carried a .22 caliber rifle.
Authorities have not released a motive for the shooting. Hassig cited a "mental health history" and "antisemitic writings" linked to Moreno. Authorities also learned of a "familial dispute" between Moreno and an ex-husband and his family, who police said are Jewish.
